FIGURE F


Be sure capture the toasts on film. Roll over picture for a larger image.

You'll want to capture the bride and groom cutting the cake and the subsequent feeding of the cake, or smearing of the cake in the face, whichever it is. Figure G shows the couple sharing champagne. All the sugar in that frosting is going to provide the fuel for the goofiness to come. When the cake is finished, then usually the dancing will begin and you're looking down the home stretch.

FIGURE G


Sharing of cake and champagne are standards of wedding photography. Roll over picture for a larger image.

The dancing will generally be the end of your work. The first dance of the married couple, like Figure H, and the father's dance with the bride, as in Figure I, are mandatory shots.

FIGURE H


Their first dance as a married couple. Roll over picture for a larger image.

FIGURE I


Daddy's little girl is all grown up. Roll over picture for a larger image.

I'm sure the mother of the groom would appreciate a picture of her dancing with her son. Once you get those standards taken care of, you're pretty much at your discretion as to what other dancing shots to take.

Often times, couples will have Dollar Dances, in which guests pay a dollar or more to dance with the newly married couple. This is a good opportunity to get shots of people that are important to the couple dancing with them, such as grandparents, wacky aunts, and so forth. You may want to discuss this with the couple ahead of time.

Once the formal dancing is over, the ball really gets rolling. This is the point where the silliness begins, usually with the tossing of the bouquet and the removal and tossing of the garter. Be sure to get pictures of both as in Figure J.

FIGURE J


Make sure to catch the tossing of the bouquet and garter. Roll over picture for a larger image.

Afterwards, the dance floor will open up for everyone and you'll begin to see things like the Chicken Dance, Macarena, Electric Slide, and all those other silly dances they do at wedding receptions. Get a few shots of the couple and guests engaging in idiocy in their formalwear, the crazier the better, then pack up your gear and enjoy yourself. It's been a long day and you've earned it.

The aftermath
The bride and groom are, of course, going to want to see their pictures as soon as possible. If they're trotting off to their honeymoon, then you've got a little time, so don't sweat it. If not though, get your film developed (or read into your computer if you're doing this digitally) as soon as possible.

If you're shooting on film, it would be a good idea to number the back of the proofs and make a key for the negatives so they can be easily identified later for prints. Remove any obviously bad shots and get the proofs to the couple so they can pick the prints and sizes they want.

Have the prints made (or make them yourself) and your job is essentially complete. Some photographers will put the album together for the couple; others merely deliver the finished prints. Which you choose to do is between you and the couple. If you don't plan on doing any more wedding photography, then have a few prints made for yourself as mementos and give everything else to the couple.